Do I Need a .243 Win. Bolt Gun ?

[FMJMIKE]

Most of my rifles are semi-autos. I would like to have one accurate shooting scoped rifle for general duty......ie.........target shooting, varmints, deer sized game and under. I have a Marlin 336 30/30 lever action but it is a 150 yard gun at most. I was thinking a bolt action scoped .243 Win. would be a good choice. What do you guys think ??? TIA

 

[newdude]

For what you stated, a .243 seems quite ideal, but a .260 will have better barrel life. And you can still get good varmint bullets for it, that is what i would go with.

Other than that, yes, you NEED a .243 bolty

 

[41magsnub]

The only gun I regret selling was my old Remington bolt .243 I started deer hunting with.

 

[Anyname]

You should never buy a multi-purpose rifle. Or you should never admit it's a multi-purpose rifle. It cuts down on your excuses for buying another gun.

 

[Bob Spangler]

If you want a really accurate, somewhat handy bolt gun, allow me to suggest the Savage model 10. You could get it in .243, which is a fine choice. With an investment of about $30 in tools and the price of a new barrel, you could put on a .243, .260, .284 (7mm08), or .308 barrel in any contour that you'd like.

Shoot the .243, love it, then when you wear the barrel out get whatever you want in a twist that's fast enough to stabiliize a high ballistic coefficient, long range, really really accurate match bullet.

Enjoy,
Bob

 

[Onmilo]

.243 Winchester is an excellent all around cartridge, especially in great states such as Virginia.
You just might find yourself grabbing the .243 far more often than that .30/30 lever gun.

 

[AKElroy]

.243 is a great deer cartridge. For the game you describe it is ideal, and would be my choice for a target round due to negligeable recoil. Any of the .308 based cartidges (.243, .260 rem, 7mm 08) would be great for your described use, but the .243 is the easiest on the shoulder from the bench.

 

[T.R.]

Some hunters like their .243 bolt action operated by a slide handle.

TR

 

[mtlucas0311]

I really wanted a nice bolt gun in a medium sized caliber last fall. I considered a .270 but it just seemed a little heavy to pound varmints with. I finally decided on a 25-06, it seemed to outperform the .243 in all areas I could think of, but was still in the 1/4 inch club. It will beat the snot out of a deer but isn't too big for varmints. I was torn between the Savage and the Ruger m77 target grey. I got the Ruger and haven't regretted it a second. I sighted it in at 300yards with off the shelf ammo and got about 3 to 4 inch groups. I'm sure target ammo or hand loads will tighten it up a bit.

 

[wankerjake]

Yes, you need one! I love mine.

 

[longdayjake]

I sighted it in at 300yards with off the shelf ammo and got about 3 to 4 inch groups. I'm sure target ammo or hand loads will tighten it up a bit.

The .25-06 is a mediocre platform when shooting factory ammo. With handloads it is by far my favorite to play with. Amazing velocity and amazing accuracy at long distances. Wait till you find a good load, you won't want to shoot much else.

 

[hlq]

I have a 243 Rem 700 and it's a great little shooter. For what you want the 243 would be a good choice.

 

[Big Bill]

I have a Marlin 336 30/30 lever action but it is a 150 yard gun at most.

I see this idea posted often here. Where does this mistatement come from?

I was thinking a bolt action scoped .243 Win. would be a good choice. What do you guys think ???

I'd go with a .270 instead. It will do everything you want and more. And, ammo is cheaper. With a .270 you can reach out and touch whatever you want. A .243 is a good prairie dog and deer round. But, if you ever want to kill an elk or other big game, you'll need a .270 minimum. Unless of course, you want to just use your 30-30.

 

[rangerruck]

I've got an old 243 remmy 788, and got it for the first time, and that caliber as well, about 1 year ago. I will never, EVER, sell it. I am convinced that there is nothing a 243 cant do, and no shot too long, that it can't reach out and touch on a straight line... Plus I redid the stock in a nice sweet honey color, so schwing!

 

[rangerruck]

for lightweight, a mod 10 savage, or a mod 7 remmy, or a superbantam mossberg, would be awesome.

 

[rangerruck]

oh wait, a cz would be awesome-est!!

 

[BENELLIMONTE]

I agree that there are better all around "big game" rifles, but if you limit it to antelope and doe mule deer like I do here in Idaho you will have a great round that will efficiently take those animals out to 300 yds with a lot less recoil and noise than most other calibers. I would stick to a premium bullet i.e Barnes 85gr XBT&95gr XLC,Nosler100gr Partition or Sierra 100gr Gameking.
As far as Rifle manufacturers my most accurate and thus the only 243 Win. rifle I still own is the now defunct M700 ADL with an unusually long 24" #2 barrel.It groups right around an an inch at 100yds.

Good luck,
Benellimonte

 

[FMJMIKE]

Great responses guys...........What do you guys use your .243 for ??? I would appreciate photos of your rifles too..............I do not like a lot of muzzle blast. Thats why I was considering the .243. I would also sell the Marlin 30/30 to help pay for the new rifle and scope and to keep the number of rifles down to a manageable number..............Thanks

 

[Birdhunter1]

No you do not need 1 .243 bolt action rifle, you need 2! One as a backup for when you drop one and damage the scope the night before you have a coyote hunt planned at daybreak.

For what it's worth I only currently have one, it is a Tikka T3 laminate stainless, Elite 3200 10X scope, it shoots 87gr. Vmax's very well and 55 gr. Blitzking's almost as well, it would sleep with it if my wife would allow it and I hardly go anywhere without it, and if it means anything my nephew, 1 uncle and a brother in law are all trying to lay first dibs on it if I die!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I was thinking a bolt action scoped .243 Win. would be a good choice. What do you guys think ???

I think you're exactly right - so the answer is a definite yes! But also agree that choosing a .260 rem chambering would be a tad bit more versatile. I like both of those calibers a lot.

 

[hlq]

I would appreciate photos of your rifles too.....

Here's mine:

Remington Md 700 BDL Left Hand in .243 built in 1988 and still going strong!

 

[Birdhunter1]

Tikka T3


55 gr. Sierra Blitzking (3 shots)

87gr. Hornady Vmax (3 shots)

 

[MD_Willington]

Nah, just get a Saiga .308 re chambered in .243 mike ! It will go good with the .223 Saiga you have


.243 or .270 bolt guns can be pretty sweet actually.

 

[robctwo]

I bought a Win Model 70 .243 in the late 70's. It was an upgrade from Dad's 30-30 for Western Oregon Blacktail deer. Great gun. Today I'd get a Savage, CZ or Remington instead. I love the Savage trigger in my .223 and .308.

The .243 got me shooting without flinching, very accurate, and plenty of poop to kill most anything wandering around these parts, including elk if necessary. That is one gun I would never regret buying, and would always recommend to another shooter.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Birdhunter, holy crap that is nice shooting!!! Did you purposely wait 1-2 hours between shots solely to let the bbl completely cool?

Note to self: Tikka ==> Good.